Night Game Drives in the Serengeti: Rules and Expectations

Not every part of the Serengeti allows night game drives. Only certain concessions and private reserves permit them, and the national park itself does not, so keep that in mind if a night drive is a must-have on your itinerary. Where drives after dark are permitted, guides rely on a red-filtered spotlight in place of ordinary white light, so nocturnal animals are disturbed as little as possible. It is a minor detail, though it shows careful wildlife management rather than mere convenience. Leopard, aardvark, genet, civet and bushbaby are all far more likely to turn up once the sun goes down. You may never see several of them on an ordinary daytime drive, which makes a night outing a complementary experience, not a repeat of the day. Take a look at our night wildlife guide, or contact us to check which properties on your itinerary permit night drives.